How Will You Be Remembered?
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Sermon Title: How Will You Be Remembered?
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:15-18
Occasion: The Lord’s Day | Communion Sunday
Date: February 23, 2025
“Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Ti 1:2.
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Introduction: The Legacy We Leave Behind
Introduction: The Legacy We Leave Behind
The great hymn writer Joseph Scriven knew the sting of abandonment and loss.
Born in Ireland in 1819, he was engaged to be married, but on the eve of his wedding, his fiancée drowned in a tragic accident.
Heartbroken, he left his homeland and moved to Canada, where he later fell in love again.
But, unbelievably, just weeks before their wedding, his second fiancée suddenly fell ill and died.
Scriven was a man acquainted with sorrow.
He committed his life to serving others, living humbly, and giving freely to those in need, and for preaching the gospel without fear.
Yet, despite his kindness, he was often rejected and mistreated because of His gospel boldness.
In the midst of this pain, he penned the words to a hymn that has strengthened generations of faithful suffering believers:
"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!"
And in one of its most powerful lines, he asks:
"Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.”
Joseph Scriven died without great wealth, without great recognition, but he is remembered as a man of faith—one who lived for others and trusted in Christ, even in hardship.
That brings us to the question Paul’s words demand of us today:
How will you be remembered?
This is the title of my sermon today.
In 2 Timothy 1:15-18, Paul, writing from a Roman prison, contrasts two kinds of people—the faithless and the faithful.
On one hand, we see Phygelus and Hermogenes—men whose names are remembered for betrayal.
On the other hand, we see Onesiphorus—a man whose name is recorded in Scripture for his steadfast faithfulness.
This passage presents us with a choice:
Will we be remembered for desertion, or for devotion?
For retreating in fear, or for standing in faith?
Paul shows us two legacies:
The Faithless (v.15) – Those who turned away.
The Faithful (vv.16-18) – The one who remained steadfast.
The way we live today determines how we will be remembered tomorrow.
Transition to the First Point:
The first legacy we see in our passage, sadly, — is the legacy of the faithless.
I. The Faithless (v. 15) – A Legacy of Betrayal
You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Paul’s words here are heavy with sorrow.
Imagine him, chained in a Roman dungeon, knowing that death is near.
Instead of fellow workers standing by him, he has been deserted.
So in verse 15, Paul reminds Timothy of the painful desertion that took place in Asia, highlighting two specific men who stood out in his mind—Phygelus and Hermogenes—whose betrayal undoubtedly caused him deep sorrow.
A. The Great Departure in Asia
“You are aware” in the Greek is translated “You know this”!
This is something that was common knowledge to those in Asia Minor, which included such cities as Ephesus, Colossae, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, which is modern-day Turkey for us.
I want to remind you again of the context:
Paul is encouraging and exhorting Timothy and the Church at Ephesus to not be ashamed of the Lord but rather, by the Spirit's power, love, and self-control, to stand for the gospel and those standing with the gospel without fear.
Knowing that Paul is imprisoned, knowing that persecution under Roman authority is increasing, Paul must double down with Timothy and the Church at Ephesus, reminding them of those deserting Christ and His faithful messengers.
And so he reminds Timothy and the Church of this great desertion in Asia.
This word “aware,” which means “to know”, conveys that this is not only common knowledge but something that Timothy would have seen with his own eyes and possibly was involved in, caught between the faithful and the unfaithful.
Illustration:
Sometimes, you have to provide a real life example to bring the reality of what you are communicating in a more real and impactful way that will wake someone up!
(Example of my father warning me when I was the youngest boy before my sister was born: "Remember when your brother did this? Don’t do that, or you’ll end up hurt like he did.")
Paul reminds Timothy of this great departure in Asia.
Now, this word “All” does not necessarily mean that every Christian walked away from the gospel work in Asia.
This could be referring to a specific event or work in Asia that the leaders there walked away from and deserted the faithful.
The reason I mention that is clearly, because Timothy is still around, and in verse 18, Paul mentions Onesiphorus.
But nonetheless, many “turned away from Paul and the gospel work in Asia.”
This "turning away" signifies not only a departure from something but also a turning toward something else.
These Christians who abandoned Paul didn’t merely forsake him and the work of the gospel in Asia—they turned to something in its place.
Perhaps they returned to their former ways or sought comfort in what was familiar.
Some scholars suggest that this turning away points to apostasy—a rejection of the faith in favor of worldliness or false teaching.
Paul ends this letter by mentioning one of these kind of apostates:
For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.
One thing is crystal clear here in verse 15:
The people Paul is talking about here abandoned the Apostle Paul and the gospel work he entrusted to these believers to be faithful with.
So we can take this “turning away” to mean they deserted the faithful messenger, the Apostle Paul, and the gospel work he left them with in Asia.
The reality is that being associated with Jesus and the Apostle Paul was deadly combination.
Example:
It reminds me of the recent case of Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Anyone who closely associates with him is in deep trouble.
To associate with Paul came with great danger and grave consequences.
The Apostle Paul was a man who was not ashamed of the gospel, a man who suffered for the gospel and for Christ’s sake.
A man who was not afraid to go into a coliseum filled with pagans and herald the message of King Jesus.
This was a man with countless beatings, multiple imprisonments, he was robbed, starved, and hated by gentiles and his own people.
Association with this man came at a great cost.
Practical Application:
In our day, it’s not too different, is it?
To associate with someone who stands for truth, whether it be pro-life, or a man of God who speaks against sin as the Bible teaches, can often cause you to lose friends.
Someone I listened to this week made this connection:
That in our day, many people say they stand for truth, they believe in the gospel, but don’t like to associate with ministers and churches that are truly Bible-believing, Bible-preaching, and Bible-living.
So instead of associating with those preachers and those churches, they attend churches and sit under preachers who soften the gospel.
Who make sinners more comfortable in church.
This preacher said, this is our modern-day “turning away” in the West.
Whether or not that connection is entirely accurate, it should at the very least prompt us to examine whether our beliefs lead us to live with conviction and align ourselves with true men and women of God and the true Church of Christ.
As they say, “Guilty by association.”
Again, “turning away” here means not just turning from but turning to.
Many are turning away in our day from the true gospel to a watered-down gospel.
Why do people embrace a watered-down gospel?
Why do people disassociate with faithful men and women of God in our day?
Because it is more socially acceptable.
Fear of man.
Fear of what others will think if we truly believe and live according to what the Bible teaches.
It might cost us our jobs.
Our wordly friendships.
It eliminates conflict and controversy.
It allows us to remain safe and comfortable in the little worlds we have created for ourselves.
But friend, God’s Word reminds us not to be ashamed of our Lord.
If we deny him he will deny us. 2 Tim. 2:12
Do not abandon Christ and His faithful messengers.
Instead of distancing yourself from Christ and true believers- support them, pray for them, and stand with them.
Nonetheless, the pain for Paul was great.
For Paul to be abandoned by these brothers hurt him personally, especially the pain caused by two personal dear brothers, Phygelus and Hermogenes, who are not mentioned anywhere else in the NT but right here!
These men were leaders in the church and had great influence to spread the gospel, but instead deserted the work.
To single these men out at the very end of his ministry, was to show Paul’s personal great pain and disappointment in them and anyone influential leaders like them.
These two men serve as a reminder to young Timothy and to us that people will betray the faithful in ministry.
And we must not turn away like those who are unfaithful.
We must not be numbered among the faithless.
This must not be our legacy.
We must not grow weary in doing good.
On the other hand, we must know that people will leave when things get hard, or maybe I can say it this way- people will leave when things get biblical.
Whether they leave because a church practices church disciplined, or they practice biblical church membership, or simply because they preach the gospel and hold fast to preaching the Word.
The faithless will leave.
This is sadly, an ordinary part of faithful Christian ministry and being a part of Biblical Church.
People will betray you.
People will leave you.
Brothers and sisters who served with you, who shared meals with you, whom you’ve discipled, who you taught with, and invested in, will leave you and the ministry.
And not only leave, but they might even oppose you and hate you.
That’s painful.
What a sobering reminder, right?
One nonetheless that we need.
B. We must remember Christ & His Words Here
Jesus Himself warned in John 15:18-19:
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Jesus Christ alone, in all of history, experienced the fullness of abandonment.
Throughout His earthly ministry, many followed Him—not out of true faith, but as fair-weather disciples, drawn by His miracles yet unwilling to bear the cost of true allegiance.
He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of His own, who walked with Him, ate with Him, and yet delivered Him into the hands of sinners.
When the moment of trial came, even His closest followers abandoned Him—fleeing in fear when He was arrested in Gethsemane.
Peter, who swore loyalty unto death, denied Him three times.
But the deepest and most agonizing abandonment came at the cross, when the Father turned His face away as Christ bore the full weight of divine wrath for the sins of His people.
This was the great and terrible cost of our redemption—the sinless Son of God forsaken so that we, who deserve abandonment, would never be forsaken.
Yet, in Christ’s resurrection, our beloved Savior secured eternal communion for His people.
Because He was truly abandoned in our place, we who are in Him will never be alone.
He bore the wrath so we might forever know the embrace of our Heavenly Father.
That is why Paul writes in the next chapter:
if we are faithless, he remains faithful…
Transition to the Next Point:
Paul’s heart was heavy from the pain of betrayal.
But in the midst of desertion, there was one man who stood out—a man whose faithfulness was a source of deep encouragement for the apostle.
While many turned away, Onesiphorus remained faithful.
This leads us to our second point…
II. The Faithful (vv. 16-18) – A Legacy of Loyalty
May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains,
but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—
Against the backdrop of betrayal, we find a beautiful picture of faithfulness.
Paul gives us hope for ministry!
There will always be a remnant of faithful christians who will stand with us for Christ and his glorious gospel.
There was in the OT and there is in the NT!
The faithful Paul mentions here is his dear brother and faithful friend, Onesiphorus.
Onesiphorus stands in contrast to Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Onesiphorus is a Proverbs friend…
He is a friend that loves at all times, and a brother that is born for adversity.
He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
This is Onesiphorus!
The name Onesiphorus (Ὀνησίφορος) is a compound of two Greek words:
ὄνησις (onēsis) – meaning "profit," "benefit," or "helpful"
φέρω (pherō) – meaning "to bring" or "to bear"
His name literally means “brining help” !
And so Paul being deeply encouraged by Onesiphorus shares with Timothy and the Church two important prayers for him and his household.
When Paul is encouraged in scripture, he can’t help but pray!
The is the natural response of the christian isn it?
A. A Prayer for Mercy for the Household of Onesiphorus
A. A Prayer for Mercy for the Household of Onesiphorus
Paul prays in verse 16, “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus.” (v16)
Two important things I want to point out here.
The content of Pauls Prayer.
To Whom He is praying for.
1. The Content of Prayer
Paul in the name of the Lord Jesus, the same name for Lord he uses in verse 2, the second person of the trinity,- He prays that this Lord, His Lord, grants to Onesiphorus’ household, mercy.
Paul is praying that the Lord show his family compassion.
He is praying that the Lord take care of their needs the same way the Lord used Onesiphorus and his family to take care of his needs.
Paul knows the very heart of God, that He is full of compassion, full of mercy.
So he asks the Lord of mercy to overflow his heart in action to this faithful minister and his family- mercy.
Paul is praying using the Matthew 5:7 principle:
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Mercy is the content of his prayer, but to whom is he praying for?
2. Paul is Praying for Onesiphorus’ Household.
The question is:
Why is Paul praying for Onesiphorus' household first and not for him?
If you raised that question, good on you!
There are two possibilities:
Since Onesiphorus had traveled to Rome to find Paul, he was separated from his family.
2. In the process of searching for Paul, Onesiphorus may have paid the ultimate cost—his life—for his efforts to care for Paul.
However, the reason this prayer is included here is not primarily for us to speculate about what happened to Onesiphorus.
Rather, it highlights that faithfulness was not only found in this devoted brother but also in his family.
When the Lord calls a minister to the ministry, He does not just call the minister—He calls his family as well.
Ministry takes a huge toll on the family.
As we serve, we must consider how our ministry impacts our families.
Think about how this would have affected Onesiphorus’ family.
They would have had to sacrifice financially to support Paul—covering the costs of Onesiphorus' journey to Rome, his lodging, and food expenses.
The family would have also shouldered the responsibilities at home in his absence—financially, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Paul, with great pastoral care, prays for the faithfulness of the minister’s family.
He prays that God would care for them and show them deep compassion for their sacrifice and faithfulness.
For those in ministry, I have two simple questions for you:
Are you considering your family and the cost they bear for your faithful service in ministry?
Do you pray that God would show mercy to your family as you devote yourself to caring for His Church?
We must carefully and prayerfully consider our families as we serve Christ and His Church.
But Paul does not stop there—he also prays for mercy upon the faithful man of God himself.
B. The Ministry of the faithful
B. The Ministry of the faithful
…for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains,
but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly..
Paul lists 3 Marks of faithful Christians
They refresh others.
The are not ashamed of associating with other faithful Christians.
They Take Action.
1.The Faithful Refresh others.
Paul says, “He often refreshed me.”
This word “refreshed” carries the idea of breathing life into someone who is weary.
Or cooling someone off on a hot day.
Paul was deeply grateful that in his moments of weakness, hunger, and thirst—whether physically, spiritually, or emotionally—Onesiphorus was there to strengthen and nourish him.
Onesiphorus didn’t just come once; he came often, repeatedly tending to Paul in his most troubled times at the cost of his life and his family.
Oh, Church, that we would learn from this faithful brother!
Oh, that we would be the kind of brothers and sisters in Christ who show up in each other’s lives when things are hard.
It’s easy to be present when everything is going well.
But the faithful show up again and again—when life is bleak, when things are misunderstood, or when it might cost them something.
Refreshing others is not a one-time act; it is something weary saints need often.
Why?
Because life is hard.
Because standing firm in faithfulness to Christ is exhausting.
We need each other.
Example:
(Visiting Brother David. Singing. Brining food.)
The beautiful thing is this:
As we refresh the weary, our own souls are refreshed.
The Lord has it rigged!
Transition to Christ:
This ministry of refreshing is the very heart of Lord.
Jesus’ ministry is one of refreshing weary souls.
For all those who are here that are weary and are in need of refreshing, heard cooling words of Christ this morning:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
… “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
Question:
Have you trusted in the One alone who can refresh your soul today?
How can you refresh God’s family today?
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Not only do the faithful refresh others but they are also not ashamed of associating with other faithful christians.
2. The Faithful are not Ashamed.
Paul has made it unmistakably clear in these last 16 verses that he is in chains.
But not as a prisoner of Rome—he is a prisoner of Christ and for Christ!
And He is Not ashamed by his own admission! (V.8)
For those outside the walls of that Roman prison, associating with Paul was dangerous.
Remember, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is writing to embolden Timothy’s resolve—to strengthen his spine so that he, too, will stand firm and suffer for the gospel if need be.
And Paul doesn’t just make his case by pointing to his own suffering; he also holds up Onesiphorus as an example—one who was willing to risk his own life to visit and care for him.
To visit Paul was to identify with him and with His Lord and the gospel he preached.
The faithful do not abandon Christ or His Church when the road gets rough.
Instead, they stand with Christ and with His people, no matter the cost.
Example:
I won’t linger on this, but we saw this tested during the pandemic.
We learned a lot about where Christians truly stood.
Many turned against faithful believers and Churches who refused to compromise the truth of God’s Word—especially our brothers and sisters in Canada, who suffered greatly for standing firm. Even imprisonment.
These faithful brothers were ridiculed and shamed by other so called Christian’s.
Not only where these Christian’s ashamed, but they turned on their own.
Faithful Christians don’t just associate with Jesus and His Church when it’s easy—but also when it’s costly.
Not only when there is no risk—but when there is great risk.
Question:
In what ways are you actively identifying with Christ and His Church, even when it is costly or unpopular?
Are there areas in your life where fear or comfort may be holding you back from bold faithfulness?
And here is the final mark of faithfulness:
The faithful don’t just talk about faithfulness.
They live it.
3. The faithful take action.
but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—
Paul describes Onesiphorus as diligently seeking him out.
The word in the greek for “Searched” is the same word used in Luke 6:19 for the desperate crowd looking to get to jesus just to touch him for healing.
They walked miles and days and through rough terrain and weather to find Jesus.
This is what is being described here of this faithful brother.
But here, Paul is describing the faithful as brothers and sisters who do everything they can in there power to seek out the good of those standing firm in Christ.
Wow.
This is Christianity 101 isn't it/
There are many scriptures I can quote here but the best example of this is the parable of the good Samaritan. I will simply read it to you.
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”
He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
The mark of a christian is the one who acts.
The one who shows mercy—the one who goes, who takes action, who loves his neighbor.
But let me be clear—this is not a call to mere moralism.
This is not about earning salvation by doing good works.
No, we are saved not by our works, but by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.
And all though our works are not the root of our salvation, they are the fruit of genuine salvation and transormation.
James say sit this way
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
This is clearly portrayed in Christ isn it?
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us
How we know that Christ loves us is because he laid down his life for his Church.
So even John follows the logic and say in verses 17 and 18 of 1 John…
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Question:
How can you love in deed and in truth today and not just in word and talk?
When you see a brother or sister in need do you show mercy?
Do you do something about it?
Transition:
Onesiphorus did.
Onesiphorus searched tirelessly for Paul and finally found him!
Hard work and sacrifice paid off!
Paul acknowledges this diligent effort of love.
Why did Onesiphorus have to work so hard to find Paul?
Because the Romans had hidden Paul away in the Mamertine Prison—a dark, underground dungeon, essentially a hole in the ground.
They did this both to prevent his followers from attempting a rescue and to protect him from assassination attempts from his enemies.
Yet, despite these obstacles, Onesiphorus persevered in his search and ultimately found Paul.
Paul acknowledges the sacrificial effort of his dear brother.
What joy that must have brought Paul to see his dear brother, O (lol)!
What joy it must have brother Onesiphorus.
Mutual encouragement.
Mutual edification.
And once again, Paul’s overflowing gratitude turns into prayer—this time, a plea for God’s mercy upon Onesiphorus “on that day.”
C. Pray For mercy on that Day
may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
Paul not only calls on Jesus for mercy, as he did in verses 2 and 16, but also asks the Lord to grant that he may find mercy “from the Lord”!
This repetition of the Greek word " the Lord" as both the giver and the one from whom mercy is received has puzzled many scholars.
So, how should we understand this double occurrence of " the Lord" in this text?
A commentator I read this week answers this question…
The Pastoral Epistles Examples of Those Ashamed and of One Who Was Not Ashamed: 1:15–18
The intention might be to indicate that “
He goes on and says..
The Pastoral Epistles Examples of Those Ashamed and of One Who Was Not Ashamed: 1:15–18
[this would] accord with the Pauline perspective that Christ by his person and work enables one to find mercy from the Father
The simple answer to this double occurrence is this:
No one will find mercy from the Father apart from the Son!
Because God poured out His wrath for our sin on Christ, sinners can only find mercy on the day of judgment by placing their faith solely in the person and work of Jesus.
No one finds mercy with the Father apart from Christ.
Transition:
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but mercy is on Paul’s mind in his last days on earth.
It’s on his mind a lot!
Especially in light of that day when he will meet Jesus face to face.
Which was clearly soon.
It’s as if Paul is consumed with the mercy of Christ and with those whose lives are marked by the mercies of God.
Onesiphorus stood out to Paul because of the way he showed him mercy—just like the Good Samaritan in Jesus’ parable.
And so Paul cannot help but respond to mercy with mercy.
A Prayer of Mercy for Onesiphorus’ family.
A Prayer of Mercy for Onesiphorus himself.
Oh, that mercy would fill our minds!
Oh, that the mercy of Christ would flood our thoughts!
Oh, that the mercies of God would stir our affections!
Oh, that the mercies of God would control our lives!
But we should ask:
Why is Paul praying for Onesiphorus to find mercy on "that day"?
As I mentioned earlier, some believe Onesiphorus had already passed away, and Paul is praying for God’s mercy upon him on the day of judgment.
Others believe Onesiphorus was separated from his family, possibly never to return, and Paul is interceding for him in that situation.
Either way, Paul is praying that God would reward Onesiphorus’ faithfulness with mercy on “that day”.
Look with me at Paul’s play on words in verses 17 and 18:
He says, “Just as Onesiphorus found me, I pray he will find mercy from the Lord on that day.”
But let’s be clear—Paul is not asking God to grant Onesiphorus salvation because he showed mercy to Paul.
Rather, Paul recognizes that Onesiphorus’ acts of mercy demonstrate his relationship with Jesus.
His mercy toward the chained and persecuted brother in Christ, the Apostle Paul, is evidence of the mercy he himself has received.
And isn’t this exactly what Jesus taught about the day of judgment and what it will reveal in Matthew 25?
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Those whom have received much mercy extend much mercy.
Does your life display the magnitude of the mercy you have received from the Lord?
Jesus says…
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Oh, that we would be a people consumed by the mercy of Christ!
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy (stop here! The only word he is instructs us to be “full” with) and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
The difference between the faithless and the faithful is mercy.
In this story, Onesiphorus, the faithful one, had a clear understanding and firm grasp of God’s mercy, which was reflected in his life through faithfulness.
On the other hand, Phygelus and Hermogenes, the faithless ones, lacked a clear view and appreciation of God’s mercy, which led to their abandonment and faithlessness.
Question:
Do you desire to live a life of merciful faithfulness to Christ?
Do you want your legacy to be one of Mercy and faithfulness rather than judgment and faithlessness?
Then your life must be consumed and fueled by the mercies of Christ!
Only a life fueled by Christ’s mercy remains faithful to Christ.
The overflow of God’s mercy is faithfulness!
And this is precisely why Paul ends this section by reminding Timothy of all the mercy filled, mercy driven service of this faithful brother in Christ .
you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
Timothy saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears—he knew firsthand—Onesiphorus' faithful service to Jesus in response to God’s mercy.
You could ask anyone in Ephesus about Onesiphorus and the first thing that would come to mind is Onesiphorus faithful service to Jesus and his people.
Question:
Do people know you as a faithful servant of Jesus and His Church?
This faithfulness—clearly evident in his fruit of service—was a response to God’s mercy.
Onesiphorus offered his life as a living sacrifice in service to Christ and His chosen messenger, the Apostle Paul.
His legacy will forever stand as a testimony and example of faithfulness to the Church.
As God’s Word reminds us and brings us fresh encouragement this morning in…
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Mercy and Faithfulness in Christ
Conclusion: A Legacy of Mercy and Faithfulness in Christ
Beloved, what will your legacy be?
When your time on this earth is over, what will people remember about you?
Will your life be marked by a faith that endures, a devotion to Christ that stands firm even in hardship?
Or will it be one of retreat, shaped by fear, compromise, and self-preservation?
These are not questions meant to burden you, for our faithfulness is not the foundation of our hope—Christ’s faithfulness is.
The good news of the gospel is that we do not leave behind a legacy of faithfulness by sheer willpower.
We remain faithful because He is faithful.
We endure not because of our strength, but because His mercy sustains us.
Paul’s words in this passage are not merely a call to perseverance, but a reminder that it is God’s mercy that holds us fast.
It was God’s mercy that sustained Paul in prison.
It was God’s mercy that strengthened Onesiphorus to seek out the suffering apostle.
And it is God’s mercy that will keep us to the end.
Invitation to the Lords Supper:
As we embark this morning t partake of the Lord’s Supper, we come not boasting in our faithfulness, but resting in the mercy of a faithful Savior.
This bread and this cup testify not to our endurance, but to His—the body broken for sinners, the blood poured out for the unworthy, the covenant of mercy that upholds His blood-bought people forever.
So, come.
Come, not in your own merit, but in His.
Come, not in your own resolve, but in His sustaining grace and mercy.
And let this meal remind us that He who calls us is faithful, and He will surely do it (1 Thess. 5:24).
Amen.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
We come before You in awe of Your mercy and faithfulness.
As we prepare to partake of this family meal, we remember the body of Christ, broken for us, and His blood, poured out for the forgiveness of our sins.
We do not come in our own worthiness, but in the righteousness of Christ alone.
Lord, let this bread and cup remind us that You have never abandoned us, even when we were faithless.
Strengthen our hearts to trust in Your mercy, to rest in Your grace, and to live in light of the faithfulness You have shown us.
Sanctify us and Bind us even closer now as the body of Christ as we commune with You and with one another and remember all that you have done for us.
May this meal nourish our souls until the day we feast with you, our precious risen Lord, in glory.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
